The Guiding Activity - Matt

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The Big Idea: Climate Change/Energy Usage

Essential Question: What would my life be like without fossil fuels?
Eighty five percent of U.S. energy consumption is of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are used to grow most of our food, transport people and goods, and make most of the things we use every day. Despite its uses, dependence on fossil fuels is causing huge problems for our planet. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the air. Increasing levels of carbon dioxide are major factor in the climatic changes our planet is experiencing. So, what would life be like without fossil fuels? You need to first discover ways fossil fuels are used in your everyday life. Then you need to come up with a solution to reduce the amount of fossil fuels you use every day.

Challenge: Design a more energy efficient home cfl_green.jpg

Guiding Questions:

1. What does Energy Efficiency mean?
2. How does heat flow between warm and cool areas?
3. How does the urban heat island effect affect the environment?

Guiding Activity

Part A: Use library or Internet resources to locate the following information:
  • Determine your home's footprint with the Home and School section of the zerofootprint calculator (link in diigo group)
  • Heating and cooling account for the largest energy use in the home. List at least three ways to reduce heating/cooling costs.
  • Discuss at least two ways the use of shade (overhangs, landscaping) can reduce energy use.
  • Explain at least two ways to reduce the energy used in lighting the home.
  • Explain at least three ways to reduce energy use by appliances (dishwashers, refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, etc.) in the home.
  • Explain how the site location of a home could affect its energy use.
  • Explain how the placement and type of windows in a home could affect energy use.

Part B: After students have gathered enough information, they can begin to design your energy-efficient home.
  • After gathering all the required information, create a list of design features that you would include in your energy-efficient home and an explanation of how each feature would reduce energy use.
  • Be sure to relate these explanations to the concepts of energy, energy conversions, heat, and energy transfer.
  • Your home design should include at least ten features to increase energy efficiency.
  • Use your own ideas as well as those you find on the Internet. Cite all sources you reference.
  • Some questions to consider as you design the home include: What materials will be used to build the home? How many windows and what type? Where will windows be located? Will there be overhangs or window coverings? Where will plants and shade trees be located? Will the home use solar power or another alternative energy source? What special appliances will the home have?
  • Using Google's Sketchup, construct a neat, labeled representation of your energy-efficient home. The product should include the home’s exterior and at least a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, living room, and laundry room. The labels should clearly identify the energy-saving design features of the home.
  • Using Google Sites, create a website to showcase the information you found during your research in Part A, and to discuss the features you built into your home in Part B.
  • Groups will present and explain their Sketchup models to the class at the end of the project.

Guiding Resources: